(mkf) October, the founding month of Schoenstatt, ended with beautiful sunshine and intensive fall colors in Schoenstatt. The variety of colors to be seen in these days matches with the variety of expectations and experiences that make persons from all walks of life and different continents visit Original Schoenstatt. The one covenant of love with Mary, Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt, and the longing to pray in the Original shrine and at the tomb of Father Kentenich, unites all of them: A journalist from Arizona, USA, and her mother; a bishop from Andhra Pradesh, India; persons from Monterrey, Mexico, on business travels, an 18-year-old gaucho from Argentina, youth from Poland. For $1.80 to the Original Shrine - if not physically, at least via air mail: a Mexican student from San Diego, California, sent a poster with paper clips representing the capital of grace and her covenant love.

Laura also sent a letter to the MTA in the shrine, asking a friend in Schoenstatt to place it in the ceramic jar there, which was donated by a Schoenstatt group from Chile last year. She wrote: "Last year, I was privileged to be in the Original Shrine. How many beautiful memories! Now I will be present at least with my capital of grace." The jar with the Latin words for "Nothing without you, MTA, nothing without us" was filled with slips of paper, cards, letters from Schoenstatters all over the world. Laura's poster was placed next to the jar. "Here are my practical contributions: Our MTA is visiting five houses in San Diego, and the families are always looking forward for the arrival of the Pilgrim Shrine."

Many persons came to the Original shrine on that last weekend in October. A young family brought their recently born baby. Walkers from the Vallendar area, young families with kids paid a short visit. Young people sat in prayer, taking notes. They were on a vocation retreat in the Sonnenau. One of them shared: "For me Schoenstatt means to not let my life run like a movie that I only watch. I want to take hold of my life and give it meaning. Mary helps give meaning to the everyday events. I am on a retreat here in Schoenstatt and this time helps me reach my goal."

As I am in Europe, I'll sure visit Schoenstatt ...

Marie Lou and Judy Galliard from Phoenix, Arizona, spent several hours in Schoenstatt, visiting the Original Shrine, Founder Chapel, Father-Kentenich- House. Judy shared: "My mother belongs to a Schoenstatt Mothers' group in Phoenix. I was coming on a business trip to Cologne and it turns out Schoenstatt is so close that I brought my mother with me. We found the shrine in Cologne yesterday. We got up at 6 am to get to the train to come to Schoenstatt today. This has truly been a gift for my mother and for me."

They also met with two young women who are spending several weeks in Schoenstatt. They shared what being in Schoenstatt means to them. Francine, 18 years old, from Manchester, England, shared: ""Only a few are able to say: "In every situation of their lives, God's will be still. Nothing is mere coincidence. Everything comes from Divine Providence! God is Father. God is Good. Everything he does is good." (2nd Founding Document) Since I came to Schoenstatt, these words have meant more and more to me every day. And I believe God wanted me to change and let the beautiful place in me that lives in my heart be seen to others. I believe that he wanted this as my gift to him for the new millennium. And so far I see that this is maybe the reason he has brought me here. So that I may take home a place of beauty and sunshine and happiness so that others obtain something from me that they could not before. I will always try my best to follow in our founders footsteps.

I am so grateful that he founded and gave his life for Schoenstatt. Because without the home that Schoenstatt provides for so many people, I am sure they could not be so happy and at home with their religion. I always believe that Schoenstatt is the movement that connects everyday life with the church. And people can give more love and time to the Blessed Mother and God through this. I hope and pray that the year 2000 is the start of something big in my life and in the life of the whole International Schoenstatt Movement."

Donna, 17 years old, from Milwaukee, USA: "This new millennium has laid a challenge before us. For the whole church it is an apostolic and eucharistic year. In order for this year to be fruitful, we the Schoenstatt family prepare our hearts. The Schoenstatt Girls' Youth can no longer only be lilies. This new time calls for greater striving: 'Each one of us must achieve the highest conceivable degree of perfection and sanctity according to his or her state of life. Not simply the great and greater but the greatest heights ought to be the object of our increased efforts.' (Founding Document 18th October 1914) The Girls' have extended their challenge and mission to the whole Schoenstatt family: Sonnenau. Our whole lives shall be transparent and so reveal to the whole world the glory of our radiant Queen, Regina ter Admirabilis. May we be a living crown giving light to the new era opening before us. This time is the new Pentecost. In the covenant of love, darkness becomes light and death - life. Since now is the acceptable time and now is the day of salvation, we are the Sonnenau here and now."

Two Schoenstatt members from Monterrey, Mexico, on a business travel, came by train with the cheap "Weekend ticket" - and just brought two colleagues along, who so far had never heard anything about Schoenstatt. All four of them enjoyed the hours they spent in Schoenstatt.

"I'll come every second month and will bring someone else with me!" A stewardess of an Brazilian airline called on one of the last days of October. In summer, she had gotten the address of Schoenstatt when visiting the Schoenstatt Center in Atibaia, Brazil. From Frankfurt airport, she came to Schoenstatt one day in summer, met a sister from Brazil who gave her a tour, came again. Her longing: "Be in Schoenstatt on October 18th ... Get a flight just for this day ..." she learned that it would it be hard to find a place to stay on that day, but on October 18th, she was here, together with a singer from Brazil. She gave him the same tour she had been given earlier. Both of them decided to take the last possible train back to Frankfurt in order to stay for the covenant renewal. When she returned to Brazil, she asked her boss for more flights to Frankfurt, because she would so much like to go to Schoenstatt more often. He agreed. She: "I'll come every second month and will bring someone else with me!"

Relationships

Whenever he comes to Europe, he also visits Schoenstatt: Bishop Balaswamy of Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India. He knows several Schoenstatt members here. On all Saints', he said Holy Mass in the Founder Chapel. One of the members of the small congregation this morning is from his country, from Andhra Pradesh: the first novice of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary from this area.

Maria Valeria from Argentina left her email address when she visited Schoenstatt last year. She was transferred to Germany by her company, and would have liked some Schoenstatt contacts in her area. Her address was passed on to a young professional woman. October 30th, 1999: These two young ladies walk into the entrance hall of the Father Kentenich House. "Here we are!" They are happy to meet there with just the two sisters who made this contact possible. "Divine providence!" "Fist, we contacted each other via email. Both of us are so busy and often travelling, so this was a perfect way to keep in contact. Then, we called each other, and now we decided to spend a weekend together in Schoenstatt."

Gratitude, Confidence, and Joy

Maria Gloria and Henk Lyding, a couple from Argentina: "My husband and I came from Holland to visit Schoenstatt while we are in Europe. Our daughter went to one of the Schoenstatt Schools in Argentina. Since then, our family has experienced that Fr. Kentenich helps us. My husband was very ill and has recovered remarkably well. I am so happy to be here to thank for all that Fr. Kentenich and Mary have done from their shrine. I have written my gratitude for Fr. Kentenich's help down in Argentina and hope it helps in his beatification process."

A German couple came with their adult daughter. The mother shared: "50 years ago, as a youth, I was in Schoenstatt. When my daughter was severely injured in a terrible car accident, I remembered Schoenstatt. Today we came to ask Mary for help, that she totally recovers."

Open House

20 young people from Poland paid a 1 hour visit to Schoenstatt; so did persons from Brazil, and Chile. Two Filipino ladies from the Frankfurt area, together with the German husband of one of them, joined the 9.00am holy Mass on Sunday: "Whenever we have some free time on Sunday, we come here. The weather is so beautiful, we just enjoy being here." A 35-year-old American woman: "I came on a retreat about 5 years ago. I invited some of my friends to come with me. We need time away from our hectic schedules to put our life in perspective. Schoenstatt helps me do that."

An 18-year-old Gaucho from Argentina - member of the Boys' Youth - spent several days in Schoenstatt. His key experience was the open house he found when he arrived around 2.00 am in the morning after a walk from Koblenz: "It was really cold out there. But when I arrived around 11.00pm, no bus was available. So I decided to walk. When I finally arrived at Schoenstatt, I went to the Original Shrine. It was open, of course, I knew la mater would let me. And then I even met a Chilean Schoenstatter there who picked me up and found a place to stay." It was October 18th, and the participants of the October Week held a prayer vigil in the Original Shrine. Therefore, the shrine was open all night. "Divine providence!"